Salalah is one of the most unique places I've visited. It is the capital of Dhofar, the largest province in the Sultanate of Oman. Historically, the region was the chief source of frankincense in the world. The mountainous area borders Yemen and is home to a rather unique climate and landscape. During the "Khareef" - [...]

One of my favourite things about living in Dubai is the social aspect. This is not by any means a complete list of all of the things you can do. These are just a few of my favourite things. 1. Head to the Beach Head to Kite Beach, kite surfers and spectators gather at the [...]

So, you've made the big move. And now, you're in a very different part of the world. I hope this post will make everyday things a little less daunting in a new city. Your First Days I arrived in Dubai on a Wednesday evening. I was excited, but I also felt very alone on that [...]

There are many misconceptions about the status of women in the Middle East. I hope to debunk some of these stereotypes by giving you a different perspective of women in the Middle East. Me: I'm moving to Dubai! Friend: Do you have to wear a burqa? Mainstream media plays a role in perpetuating these misconceptions instead [...]

So, you're moving to the Middle East, and you're probably asking yourself, "What do I wear?" Many people outside of Dubai think that the entire Middle East is like Saudi Arabia, where all women must cover up all the time. Based on my limited experience from family trips to Egypt, and the handbook my company in [...]

The Gulf region is unlike most places in the world. The passport you hold makes a difference here. Entering the United Arab Emirates Your passport influences if and how you can enter the country. As a citizen of a Western country such as: The Americas, The United Kingdom, The European Union or Australia - you [...]

Two years ago, I took a leave of absence from my job in Canada and decided to relocate to the Middle East. To be exact, I moved to Dubai. When most people hear "Dubai", they think of luxury cars, luxury brands, in fact, luxury everything. It's easy to imagine why a Canadian used to harsh [...]

Geography:

Dubai is one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. The others are, Abu Dhabi (the capital), Sharjah, Fujeirah, Ras Al Khaima, Ajman and Um Al Quwain.
Each Emirate has its laws, and its ruler.

The UAE is a part of the GCC (Gulf Countries Coalition) you can think of this like the European Union, but the Arab version. The GCC also includes: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Baharain and The Sultanate of Oman.

Currency

Currency:
The official currency is the Emirati Dirham. One Canadian dollar is equivalent to roughly 2.74 AED.